Unitary guiding and latching means for automobile hoods



w. H.. KRAusE A 'UNITARY GUIDING mm Lucani@ F013 AUTOMOBILE Hocus 2 Sl'uaet's-Sheet l original Filed vaglia, m59

Aug. 20, I

/Illl/IJ.

w. H. KaAusE 2,211,8294

UNITARY surplus LATGHING MEANS Fon AUTOMOBILE 4l-Ioon's Aug. 20, "1940.

2 Smets-sheet 2 'rginal Fil-ed nay- 13, 1939 Patented Aug. 2o, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNITARY GUIDING AND LATCHING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE HOODS original application May 1s, 1939, serial No.

Divided and this application December 1, 1939, Serial N0. 307,050

11 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in latches and has for one purpose the provision of an improved latch for the closure of an automobile hood.

Another purpose is the provision of a latch assembly which shall be compact, easy to manufacture, and eilicient in use.'

Another purpose is the provision of means unitarilyapplicable to an automobile hood and 'l0 hood closure having primary latching means,

secondary safety latching means, and means for lifting the hood closure a predetermined distance in response to release of the primary latching means and prior to the release of the secondary safety latching means.

Another purpose is' the provision of improved means for guiding the downward movement of the hood and latching means into latching position. Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

The present application is a division of my vcopending application Serial No. 274,315, iiled in the United States Patent Ofiice on May 18, 1939.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagram- Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specication and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, I generally indicates an automobile hood and 2 a closure there- 4o for, transversely and horizontally hinged at its rear end as at 3. It will be understood, however, that the hinge shown is diagrammatic and that any suitable mounting for the rear end of the closure 2 -may be employed. 4 generally indicates the instrument panel of the vehicle. It will be understood that in the claims, however, I may employ the term "hood to indicate the hood closure 2', since it cooperates with the nor'- mally fixed portion I to constitute a complete 50 hood or enclosure for the engine. Mounted on the hood I is a member which I may call a bottom plate, generally indicated at Ii` and shown in some'detail for example in Figs. 2 and following. It is illustrated as having a 55 transversely elongated aperture I surrounded by ber below described.

v be employed.

a downwardly turned flange 8. The plate 6 may be mounted in any suitable fashion upon the hood l. I illustrate for example flanges 9 at each side of the hood I to which the plate 6 may be secured by bolts I0 or by any other suit- 5 able securing means.

Any suitable adjusting slots may be provided on the plate 6, as shown for example at II in Fig.

2. Preferably the plate 6 is mounted for lateral adjustment, the slots II being laterally or trans- 10 versely elongated, whereby the aperture 'I may be aligned with the latching means belo w described.

I2 indicates a downwardly turned ange adapted to receive the secondary or ysafety latching memyAn additional rearward l5 reinforcing ilange I3-may be provided.

Mounted on the lower side of the palte 6 Iillustrate a latch member I4 shown as formed of sheet metal and mounted on or forming part of a lever I5 pivoted as at I6 for rotation about a 20 vertical pivot and urged by a spring I'I toward latching position. I8 is any suitable retaining member for the lever I5 which may be secured to the bottom of the plate 6. I9 is a downwardly 'projecting lug on the end of the lever I5 which 25 is adapted to receive any suitable operating element or rod 20 which terminates in any suitable operating handle member diagrammatically shown at 2|. The member 2| may be mounted on or adjacent the instrument panel 4 of the 30 vehicle, in a position convenient to the driversseat.

22 indicates a transversely extending plate mounted on the hood closure 2, for example upon intermediate brackets 23 secured upon the 35 inturned lower edges or ilanges 24 of the hood closure 2. It will'be understood, of course, that any suitable securing and supporting means may I illustrate the member 22 as mounted for longitudinal adjustment and for 40 that purpose I provide adjusting slots 25 through which pass any suitable securing bolts 26 whereby the member 22 is secured upon the upper inner flanges of the brackets 23. The trans- Versely extending member 22 is upwardly olset 45 as at 2l, which offset may serve as a reinforcing means and is not in general essential. It is also provided with reinforcing flanges 28, shown as upwardly extending.

Mounted on the upwardly offset central portion 64 is a combined centering and locking keeper 29, which may for example be formed of rod stock screw threaded as at 30 and held in position by upper and lower nuts 65, 66. It has secured or formed at its lower end a spear head,

or downwardly pointed conel33 having a. generally horizontal upper ledge or locking keeper 34 adapted to receive the lever or locking member I5, for example when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3.

In order to initially raise the member or closure 2 I illustrate as opposed to the plate 6 a generally'cylindrical upwardly extending member 60, with a partial top closure 6l, centrally apertured as at 62 to admit therethrough a. shank of the guiding member or pin 29, and an outward bottom flange 6Ia. As will be observed from Fig. 3, the head 33 of the pin is located below the bottom of the cylinder 60 when the parts are in locking position, but the internalr diameter of the cylinder is 'sufficient to permit the head to extend upwardly therethrough. The cylinder 60 serves as an abutment, and as a guiding or' positioning means for a coil spring 63, which is compressed between the top surface of the plate 6 and the bottom surface of the upper plate 22,

when the hood is closed. The upper plate 22 is shown as recessed as at 64 to receive` a square nut or abutment 65 screw threaded on the screw threaded portion of the pin 29. 66 is any suitable nut which serves to lock the above described assembly in position.

I provide a secondary or safety latching means which includes a lever or hook 4I with a latching or hook portion proper 42. The hook member is pivoted as-at cl3 between ears i4 which may be downwardly struck from the upper transverse plate 22. Any suitable means may be employed for urging the hook i2 normally into vertical alignment with the securing lip I2. I illustrate for example a coil spring 15. The hook is provided also with a nger or handle piece 46, preferably formed integrally therewith, the purpose of which will later appear. i

It will be realized that Whereas I have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition o parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illus' trative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to. my precise showing. For example, whereas I have shown a specific spear shaped rod, it will be understood that variations in form, shape and material may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. g

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

Referring to the form herein, I provide a compact structure for carrying a lock or latch which holds the closure portion 2 of the hood in final locked position, and an additional latch lli which permits a limited upward movement of the member 2. For lifting means I provide a spring t3, and a cup-shaped member 65B surrounding the rod 29.

When the member 2 is moved into the closed v position in which it is shown for, example in Fig.

3, the lever I5, including the latch portion I6, is urged into locking position by its controlling spring, and the parts are rmly locked. When the operator releases the lever I5 by pulling on the handle 2i, the spring means 63 are effective to raise the member 2 a predetermined distance. This distance is preferably sulcient to permit the hand of an operator to penetrate beneath the loweredge of the member 2 easily, to contact the handle 46 of the supplemental catch 4| The operator can then, by one unitary movement, lift the member 2 and at the same time rotate the handle 46 suiilciently to move the hook 42 out of vertical alignment with the abutment ledge I2 of the plate Note that the conic head 33 merges into a cy lindrical portion 33a of a length suiiicient to engage and provide a. proper bearing with the downturned iiange 8 of the plate 6. Note that this iange 8 does notentirely surround the aperture penetrated by the head 33, as the latch member I4 cuts in at one side or end of the aperture. The cylindrical portion 33a of the head 33 engages the iiange 8 at diametrically opposed sides of the head. The length of the aperture 'I of the plate 6 permits a certain relative movement of the guiding head and the lower plate 6 in a. longitudinal direction. This is important in connection with the upward and downward movement of the closure, and particularly where lever supports, compound hinges, or the like, are employed for the rear end of the hood.

In the operation of this device, if it happens that an operator, lling station attendant, or the like, does not slam the member 2 down sufciently far to move the parts into locking position, no risk of accident is involved if, as the vehicle starts, wind pressure` is suillcient to raise the hood, as the safety latch or hook 4I will permit only -a relatively slight upward movement' of the member 2. However, the lifting movement will be suicient to be apparent to the operator, who can then stop the car and firmly close the member 2. It is advantageous that, when the member 2 is closed, no outsider can normally obtain access to either the latch lever I5 or to the supplemental catch ill. It is only when the operator releases the lever I5 by pulling on the handle 2i that an outsider can have access to the handle llt, and may thereby lift the member 2. with lts doors closed, it is safe from any normal tampering.

I claim:

l. In a vehicle hood latch assembly 'for a movable hood having a latch and a keeper, a pair of transversely extending mounting members, one mounted on the hood and the other on a stationary part of the vehicle, said mounting mem-1 bers being adjacent, and superposed when the hood is closed, the keeper having means for mounting it for generally vertical adjustment in relation to one of said mounting members, the other mounting member having an aperture to receive it, the latch being mounted on the aper tured mounting member and including a portion adapted to engage said keeper in locking relationship when said keeper penetrates said aper tured mounting member, and means adjustably mounting one or" said mounting members whereby they may have relative adjustment to provide for proper alignment of said keeper and said aperture, said keeper including a stem and a downwardly and inwardly beveled head having a shoulder at the top.

2. In a vehicle hood latch assembly for a movable hood having a latch and a keeper, a pair of transversely extending mounting members, one mounted on the hood and the other on a stationary part of the vehicle, said mounting members being adjacent, and superposed when the hood is closed, the keeper having means for mounting it for generally vertical adjustment in relation to one of said mounting members, the other mounting member having an aperture to receive it, the latch being mounted on the aper- IZil'ius, if the vehicle is locked, u

tured mounting member and including a portion adapted to engage said keeper in locking relationship when said keeper penetrates said apertured mounting member, and means adjustably mounting one of said mounting members whereby they may have relative adjustment to provide for proper alignment of said keeper and said aperture, said keeper including a stem and a downwardly and inwardly beveled head having a shoulder at the top, said head'includlng a generally vertical walled portion of substantially greater diameter than the stem, and a beveled portion downwardly extending vfrom said vertical walled portion'.

3. In a vehicle hood latch assembly for a movf able hood having a latch and a keeper, a pair side of the apertured mounting member and including a portion adapted to engage said keeper in locking relationship when said keeper pene- .trates said apertured mounting member, and

means adjustably mounting one of said mounting members whereby they may have relative adjustment to provide for proper alignment of said mounted on the hood and the other on a stal tionary part of the vehicle, said mounting members being adjacent, and superposed, when 4the hood is closed, the keeper having means for mounting it for generally vertical adjustment in relation to one of said mounting members, the' other mounting member having an aperture to receive it, the latch being mounted on the lower i' side of the apertured mounting member and including a portion adapted to engage said keeper in locking relationship when said keeper penetrates said apertured mounting member, and means adjustably mounting one of said mounting members whereby they may have relative ad justment to'v provide for proper alignment of said keeper and said aperture, said keeper including a stem and a downwardly and inwardly beveled head having 'a shoulder at the top, said head being adapted to cam the latch when the hood is movedto closed position, the keeper, when the hood is in closed position, extending s uiiiciently far through the apertured mounting member to permit the latch to extend above'said shoulder and to engage it in a locking relationship.

5. In a vehicle hood latch assembly for a movable hood having-a latch and a keeper, a pair of transversely extending mounting members, one mounted on the hood and thev other on a stationary part of the vehicle, said mounting members being adjacent, and superposed when the hood is closed,l the keeper having means for mounting it for generally vertical adjustment in relation to one of said mounting members, the other mounting member having an aperture to receive it, the latch being mounted on the lower side of the apertured mounting member and including a portion adapted to engage said keeper in locking relationship when said keeper penetrates said apertured mounting member, and means adjustably mounting one of said mounting members whereby they may have relative lad- Justment to provide forproper alignment of said keeper and saidaperture, said keeper including a stem and a downwardly and inwardly beveled head having a shoulder at the top, said head includinga generally vertical walled portion, and

a beveled portion downwardly` extending vfrom said generally vertical walled portion, said beveled portion being adapted to cam the latch `when the hood is'moved to closed position, the keeper, when the hood is-in closed position, ex- -tending Asufficiently far through the apertured mounting member to permit the latch to extend above said shoulder and vto engage it in a locking relationship, the aperture of the apertured mounting member having wall portions adapted to engage said vertical walled portion' of the head when the hood is closed.

6. In a vehicle hood latch assembly for a movable hood having a latch and a keeper, a pair of transversely extending mounting members, one mounted on the hood and the other on astationary part of the vehicle, said mounting members being adjacent, and superposed when the hood is closed, the keeper having means for mounting it for generally vertical adjustment inl relation to one of said mounting members, the other mounting -member having an aperture to receive it, the latch being mounted on the lower side of the apertured mounting member and including a portion adapted to engage said keeper in locking relationship when said keeper penetrates said apertured mounting member, said keeper including a stem and a head at the lower end thereof having a generally cylindrical portion, having an upper shoulder, and a conic portion downwardly extending from said cylindrical portion, the keeper, when the hood is in closed position, extending suiilciently far through the apertured mounting member to permit the latch to extend above said shoulder and to engage itin a locking relationship.

7. In a vehicle hood latch assembly for a movable hood having a latch and a keeper, a pair of transversely extending mounting members, one mounted on the hood and the other on a stationary part of the vehicle, said mounting members being adjacent, and superposed when the hood is closed, the keeper having means for mounting it for generally vertical adjustment in relation to one of said mounting members, the other mounting member having an aperture to receive it, the latch being mounted on the lower sidel of the apertured mounting member and including a portion adapted to engage said keeper in locking relationship when said keeper penetrates said apertured mounting member, said keeper including a stem and a generally conic member at the lower end thereof, said head having an upper shoulder, said head, when the hood is in closed position, extending suiiiciently far through the apertured mounting member to permit the latch to extend above said shoulder and to engage it in a locking relationship.

8. In a vehicle hood latch assembly for a movable hood having a latch and a keeper, a pair of transversely extending mounting members, one

mounted on the hood and the other on a stationary part of the vehicle, said mounting members being adjacent, and superposed when the hood is closed, the keeper having means for mounting it for generally vertical adjustment in relation to one of said mounting members, the other mounting member having an aperture to receive it, the latch being mounted on the lower side of the apertured mounting member and including a; portion adapted to engage said keeper in locking relationship when said keeper penetrates said apertured mounting member, and means adjustably mounting one of said mounting members whereby they may have relative adjustment to provide for proper alignment of said keeper and said aperture, said keeper including a stem and a generally conic head having a shoulder at the top, said head including a generally cylindrical portion, and a conic portion downwardly extending from said generally cylindrical portion, said conic portion being adapted to cam the latch when the hood is moved to closed position, the keeper, when the hood is in closed position, extending suillciently far through the apertured mounting member to permit the latch to extend above said shoulder and to engage it in a lock-- .ing relationship, the aperture of the apertured mounting member having wall portions adapted to engage said cylindrical portion of the head when the hood is closed, the aperture of said a ertured mounting member being of suicient length to permit relative longitudinal adjustment of the two mounting members.

9. In a vehicle hood latch assembly for a movable hood having a latch and a keeper, a pair l of transversely extending mountiing members, one mounted on the hood and the other on a stationary part of the vehicle, said mounting members being adjacent, and superposed when the hoodis closed, the keeper having means for mounting it for generally vertical adjustment in relation to one of said mounting members, the other mounting member having an aperture to receive it, the latch being mounted on the apertured mounting member and including a portion adapted to engage said keeper in locking relationship when said keeper penetrates said apertured mounting member, and means adjustably mounting one of said mounting members whereby they may have relative adjustment to provide for proper alignment of said keeper and said aperture, said keeper including a stem and a generally regular conic head having a shoulder at the top.

10. In a vehicle hood latch assembly for a movable hood having a latch and a keeper, a pair of transversely extending mounting members, one mounted on the hood and the other on a stationary part of the vehicle, said mounting members being adjacent and superposed when the hood is closed, the keeper having means for mounting it for generally vertical adjustment in relation to one of said mounting members, the other having an aperture to receive it, the latch being mounted on the apertured mounting member and including a portion adapted to engage said keeper in locking relationship when said keeper penetrates said apertured mounting member, said keeper including a stem and a downwardly and inwardly beveled head having a shoulder at the top, the shouldered part of the head being of substantially greater diameter than the stem, the margin of the mounting member defining the keeper receiving aperture having a downwardly extending flanged portion adapted to aid in guiding the keeper.

11. In a vehicle hood latch assembly for a movable hood having a latch and a keeper, a pair of transversely extending mounting members, one mounted on the hood and the other on a stationary part of the vehicle, said mounting members being adjacent and superposed when the hood is closed, the keeper having means for mounting it for generally vertical adjustment in relation to one mounting member, the other having an aperture to receive it, said keeper including a stem and a downwardly and inwardly beveled head having a shoulder at the top, the shouldered part of the head being of substantially greater diameter than the stem and providing a substantial bolt engaging ledge extending about the head, the latch being mounted on the apertured plate and including a bolt portion adapted to engage the ledge of the keeper head in locking relationship when the keeper head penetrates said apertured plate.

WALTER H. KRAUSE. 

